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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Frostblood is the first book in the young adult fantasy Frostblood Saga series by Elly Blake. Frostblood is author Elly Blake's debut novel, and I have to say, I was super impressed with it. I loved the lore and myths behind the Firebloods and the Frostbloods. I found it to be super interesting, and in a world where every idea feels like a derivation of another, I couldn't find another book that was quite like this one. The take on fire and ice wielders felt fresh and interesting. I really loved Frostblood and I am super pumped for Fireblood. (and I crazy excited that the third book is called darkblood because after reading book one, that titles gives me all kinds of awesome ideas about what might be coming in the future of this series.) One thing is for sure, Elly Blake is an author to keep your eye on. She is going to have so many more awesome books for us in the future. I just know it.
Ruby is a girl that lost everything at a young age simply because she was a fireblood rather than a frostblood. It was interesting to me that though they are similar, one of the power wielders is acceptable and one is not. I'm not sure how fire is more dangerous than frost. Both can certainly be deadly, but that is a digression for another day. I loved Ruby. She is a scrappy little thing, and she is a fighter. I loved the monks she went to stay with, and yes, I totally loved Arcus too. Their romance was one that I called early on, and I loved every second of it. It was slow burn and full of bickering, and I ate it all up. I can't wait for more romance between the two of them.
The whole story just worked really, really well for me. Right from page one, I was drawn into this world, and I didn't surface again for a few hours until I had finished the book in one go. Now I want more. I have so many questions about the Minax and about the last fireblood queen. Heck, even about Marella. I feel like there are going to be so many more secrets, and twists and reveals and I can't wait for them.
Bottom line: Frostblood is an awesome debut. It is full of slow burn romance, fantasy & magic, a richly historied world full of myths and secrets, and a really cool story line. I want more! Frostblood is a book that should not be missed!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Ruby is a girl that lost everything at a young age simply because she was a fireblood rather than a frostblood. It was interesting to me that though they are similar, one of the power wielders is acceptable and one is not. I'm not sure how fire is more dangerous than frost. Both can certainly be deadly, but that is a digression for another day. I loved Ruby. She is a scrappy little thing, and she is a fighter. I loved the monks she went to stay with, and yes, I totally loved Arcus too. Their romance was one that I called early on, and I loved every second of it. It was slow burn and full of bickering, and I ate it all up. I can't wait for more romance between the two of them.
The whole story just worked really, really well for me. Right from page one, I was drawn into this world, and I didn't surface again for a few hours until I had finished the book in one go. Now I want more. I have so many questions about the Minax and about the last fireblood queen. Heck, even about Marella. I feel like there are going to be so many more secrets, and twists and reveals and I can't wait for them.
Bottom line: Frostblood is an awesome debut. It is full of slow burn romance, fantasy & magic, a richly historied world full of myths and secrets, and a really cool story line. I want more! Frostblood is a book that should not be missed!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Fireblood is the second book in the Frostblood saga and should be read in order. This review might contain light spoilers from the first book.
If you are new to the series, you can check out my review of the first book HERE
Fireblood is the second book in the young adult fantasy Frostblood Saga series by Elly Blake. I read Frostblood at the end of last year and I really loved it. I have been itching for the second book in the series ever since. I loved the lore and myths behind the Firebloods and the Frostbloods. and I am so, so happy to say that I loved Fireblood just as much as Frostblood. I am so ready for book three, Darkblood! I need it right now! Fireblood was just as action packed as the first installment, and we learned so much more about the Firebloods, the Minax and the history of the world. There are plenty more secrets to be revealed in the next book.
If you remember from my review of Frostblood, I am totally in love with Ruby and Arcus. So, like a lot of readers, I was instantly upset and wary of the mention of a new guy named Kai. And while I still love Arcus the most (and I ALWAYS will!) Kai did grow on me. Not as a love interest for Ruby (because, hello...Arcus!) but he isn't a bad guy. I am not going to give away too much of the story, especially on the romance front but I will say that there were moments of great frustration for me. I even screamed out NOOO! at one point. But no matter what was happening, good or bad, I couldn't tear myself away from this book. I was hooked right from the very start all the way to the last page. And then I wanted more, more MORE!
I am so in love with this series and this frost and fire world. I have so many more questions about the minax, but I feel like I learned to much in Fireblood. It only fueled my intrigue and interest in these novels. Elly Blake is a fantastic story teller. She writes books that grab ahold of me and do not let go. I fear I am becoming addicted to her books, because I need the next installment right now. And I need more Arcus. I love him so much!
Bottom line: The Frostblood saga is an awesome series. And Fireblood did not disappoint. it is every bit as brilliant as the first book. It is full of fantasy & magic, a richly historied world full of myths and secrets, and a really cool story line. I want more! The Frostblood Saga is a book that should not be missed! One thing is for sure, Elly Blake is an author to keep your eye on. She is going to have so many more awesome books for us in the future. I just know it. I loved Fireblood!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Fireblood is the second book in the Frostblood saga and should be read in order. This review might contain light spoilers from the first book.
If you are new to the series, you can check out my review of the first book HERE
Fireblood is the second book in the young adult fantasy Frostblood Saga series by Elly Blake. I read Frostblood at the end of last year and I really loved it. I have been itching for the second book in the series ever since. I loved the lore and myths behind the Firebloods and the Frostbloods. and I am so, so happy to say that I loved Fireblood just as much as Frostblood. I am so ready for book three, Darkblood! I need it right now! Fireblood was just as action packed as the first installment, and we learned so much more about the Firebloods, the Minax and the history of the world. There are plenty more secrets to be revealed in the next book.
If you remember from my review of Frostblood, I am totally in love with Ruby and Arcus. So, like a lot of readers, I was instantly upset and wary of the mention of a new guy named Kai. And while I still love Arcus the most (and I ALWAYS will!) Kai did grow on me. Not as a love interest for Ruby (because, hello...Arcus!) but he isn't a bad guy. I am not going to give away too much of the story, especially on the romance front but I will say that there were moments of great frustration for me. I even screamed out NOOO! at one point. But no matter what was happening, good or bad, I couldn't tear myself away from this book. I was hooked right from the very start all the way to the last page. And then I wanted more, more MORE!
I am so in love with this series and this frost and fire world. I have so many more questions about the minax, but I feel like I learned to much in Fireblood. It only fueled my intrigue and interest in these novels. Elly Blake is a fantastic story teller. She writes books that grab ahold of me and do not let go. I fear I am becoming addicted to her books, because I need the next installment right now. And I need more Arcus. I love him so much!
Bottom line: The Frostblood saga is an awesome series. And Fireblood did not disappoint. it is every bit as brilliant as the first book. It is full of fantasy & magic, a richly historied world full of myths and secrets, and a really cool story line. I want more! The Frostblood Saga is a book that should not be missed! One thing is for sure, Elly Blake is an author to keep your eye on. She is going to have so many more awesome books for us in the future. I just know it. I loved Fireblood!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
You all know by now that I am the biggest fan of Penny Reid. And of the Winston brothers. As soon as I read Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid, and I was introduced to the 6 Winston Brothers, I was hooked. I knew that I wanted to read their stories. And then I read Truth or Beard, and I loved that even more. And then I read Beard Science, and I loved that the most of all!! There is not a Penny Reid book that I don't love. And what I love even more is her writing. No one writes romance like Penny Reid. Her books are always witty, gripping and so, so, much fun to read.
Beard in Mind is the fourth book in the Winston Brothers series. Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading them in order because they are all pure magic, and you will want to experience every minute of them. Trust me on that. Beard in Mind is Beau's story. And I have been waiting for Beau's story for a long time. Ever since I met him and his twin brother Duane, I have been intrigued by how different the two of them are. And I have wanted to get to know Beau better. That was honestly my favorite part of Beard in Mind. We really got to dive into Beau's head and see what makes him who he is. At the end of Cletus' story, I wasn't too sure about Shelly. She is an odd duck, that is for sure. So I was cautiously optimistic when I started Beard in Mind. And I have to say, Shelly really won me over. We certainly get to see why she is the way she is, and I really applaud Penny Reid on her thorough depiction of OCD with Shelly. It was really interesting for me to delve into some of her serious compulsions, thoughts and behaviors.
Cletus is still my favorite, but I did really love Beau as well. I am not sure that anyone can top Cletus in my mind, but I can't wait to see Billy's story and see if that is true or not. ( I have a feeling if any of the brothers can knock Cletus off the pedestal Jennifer and I have him on, it would be Billy. But I don't know. My love for Cletus does run pretty deep.)
I have said it before and I will say it again- Penny Reid has a winning formula on her hands with this family. Each of the Winston boys has such a big personality. That paired with Penny's talent for blending kick ass romance with spot on humor and comedic timing is pure gold. I get excited when I see that one of Penny Reid books is coming up on my TBR pile because I just know that it is going to be something great. And she has not let me down yet. If you have not yet experienced the magic that is a Penny Reid romance, this is the series you need to start with. You will fall head over heels for the Winston Boys! I will take a hot look from any of them. Winston Brothers, we are suited. I'll take any of them. But really....Cletus is all mine! Move over banana cake queen.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
You all know by now that I am the biggest fan of Penny Reid. And of the Winston brothers. As soon as I read Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid, and I was introduced to the 6 Winston Brothers, I was hooked. I knew that I wanted to read their stories. And then I read Truth or Beard, and I loved that even more. And then I read Beard Science, and I loved that the most of all!! There is not a Penny Reid book that I don't love. And what I love even more is her writing. No one writes romance like Penny Reid. Her books are always witty, gripping and so, so, much fun to read.
Beard in Mind is the fourth book in the Winston Brothers series. Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading them in order because they are all pure magic, and you will want to experience every minute of them. Trust me on that. Beard in Mind is Beau's story. And I have been waiting for Beau's story for a long time. Ever since I met him and his twin brother Duane, I have been intrigued by how different the two of them are. And I have wanted to get to know Beau better. That was honestly my favorite part of Beard in Mind. We really got to dive into Beau's head and see what makes him who he is. At the end of Cletus' story, I wasn't too sure about Shelly. She is an odd duck, that is for sure. So I was cautiously optimistic when I started Beard in Mind. And I have to say, Shelly really won me over. We certainly get to see why she is the way she is, and I really applaud Penny Reid on her thorough depiction of OCD with Shelly. It was really interesting for me to delve into some of her serious compulsions, thoughts and behaviors.
Cletus is still my favorite, but I did really love Beau as well. I am not sure that anyone can top Cletus in my mind, but I can't wait to see Billy's story and see if that is true or not. ( I have a feeling if any of the brothers can knock Cletus off the pedestal Jennifer and I have him on, it would be Billy. But I don't know. My love for Cletus does run pretty deep.)
I have said it before and I will say it again- Penny Reid has a winning formula on her hands with this family. Each of the Winston boys has such a big personality. That paired with Penny's talent for blending kick ass romance with spot on humor and comedic timing is pure gold. I get excited when I see that one of Penny Reid books is coming up on my TBR pile because I just know that it is going to be something great. And she has not let me down yet. If you have not yet experienced the magic that is a Penny Reid romance, this is the series you need to start with. You will fall head over heels for the Winston Boys! I will take a hot look from any of them. Winston Brothers, we are suited. I'll take any of them. But really....Cletus is all mine! Move over banana cake queen.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Addicted to You is a really great read. Perfect for summertime. It's spicy and sweet and the best part is that it was surprisingly deep and the characters were wonderfully complex. I loved the additional layers to the story line. It helped me form connections with everyone and fall in love with them.
Leah sure has bad luck. Her poor roommate. I thought it was hilarious that her roommates punishment/idea was to force Leah to attend 20 weeks of sex addicts group. I loved that we really got to know Leah. Not just the surface, we got to learn about her childhood, about her awesome relationship with her brother, about how alone she really is, and through all of that I really got to know her. Will kept calling her his grumpy beauty and I thought that was adorable. I can relate to this because I too have been told that I can sometimes have a case of "grump face" like Leah. We can both be really serious and guarded and it comes off as grumpy. Maybe that's why I liked Leah so much? The only person I liked more than Leah was Will.
Will even has a scottish accent. Hello cutie! He was just so sweet and thoughtful. I loved how persistent he was, and how he tried to do the right thing. His roommate, Finn was the perfect complement and funny guy to add to the story. We learned some of Will's past, but not as much as Leah. I kind of wish we got to learn a little more about him. But we did get to see some of the chapters through his point of view, which you all know by now that I love. I can't get enough of guys POV.
I know I have been going on and on about how great it is that great it is that this book had so much depth, but I think I should also mention that this book also had its seriously hot and steamy moments. It is certainly a new adult book, and has scenes that may not be appropriate for some under 17-18. But if you like new adult contemporary romances, you will love Addicted to You. Read it right now!
Leah sure has bad luck. Her poor roommate. I thought it was hilarious that her roommates punishment/idea was to force Leah to attend 20 weeks of sex addicts group. I loved that we really got to know Leah. Not just the surface, we got to learn about her childhood, about her awesome relationship with her brother, about how alone she really is, and through all of that I really got to know her. Will kept calling her his grumpy beauty and I thought that was adorable. I can relate to this because I too have been told that I can sometimes have a case of "grump face" like Leah. We can both be really serious and guarded and it comes off as grumpy. Maybe that's why I liked Leah so much? The only person I liked more than Leah was Will.
Will even has a scottish accent. Hello cutie! He was just so sweet and thoughtful. I loved how persistent he was, and how he tried to do the right thing. His roommate, Finn was the perfect complement and funny guy to add to the story. We learned some of Will's past, but not as much as Leah. I kind of wish we got to learn a little more about him. But we did get to see some of the chapters through his point of view, which you all know by now that I love. I can't get enough of guys POV.
I know I have been going on and on about how great it is that great it is that this book had so much depth, but I think I should also mention that this book also had its seriously hot and steamy moments. It is certainly a new adult book, and has scenes that may not be appropriate for some under 17-18. But if you like new adult contemporary romances, you will love Addicted to You. Read it right now!
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**I am so so glad I read The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee! Seriously, this book was fresh and exciting and so so much fun. I can't remember having read anything like this in a while! The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is based on chinese folklore and mythology, which I loved for so many reasons. I love the magic elements of it, I love anything mythology related and I really loved that it was based on the folklore of a country I don't know much about. Learning about the Monkey King and Buddha, the hundreds of demons, and all the deities was so so interesting. Plus, there were all kinds of twists and turns that I am so not spoiling because I loved them so much!
When Quentin met Genie he knew her right away, but we don't know how. And how he knew her was nothing I was guessing and I completely LOVED IT! Ok, ok, if you really want to know what I loved about this book right off the bat, check out this spoiler because it truly surprised me.Quentin knew Genie not because she was his girlfriend or anything like that. She was his all powerful weapon! How cool and different is that?? Genie is just a normal girl, until she finds herself wrapped up in a demon invasion, and it all centers around the arrival of Quentin in her California town. I loved the adventure they embarked on.
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo has tons of action, a nice little budding romance, lots of folklore background and tales and a really really cool story. I couldn't put this book down. Genie Lo kicks some serious butt! She is awesome. Quentin is cool too but not nearly as awesome as Genie. I loved her because she is such a complex and vivid character. Everything about her personality came to life for me. I need more books because I feel like we have so much more of this world left to explore. And I, for one, want to go on more adventures with Quentin and Genie. In fact, I demand more! I am also hoping for some more romance in the next book. I feel like the stage has been perfectly set and I am so anxious for a sequel!
Bottom Line: The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is an epic story! I really loved this one and I would encourage you to grab a copy and go on this awesome adventure yourself!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
When Quentin met Genie he knew her right away, but we don't know how. And how he knew her was nothing I was guessing and I completely LOVED IT! Ok, ok, if you really want to know what I loved about this book right off the bat, check out this spoiler because it truly surprised me.
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo has tons of action, a nice little budding romance, lots of folklore background and tales and a really really cool story. I couldn't put this book down. Genie Lo kicks some serious butt! She is awesome. Quentin is cool too but not nearly as awesome as Genie. I loved her because she is such a complex and vivid character. Everything about her personality came to life for me. I need more books because I feel like we have so much more of this world left to explore. And I, for one, want to go on more adventures with Quentin and Genie. In fact, I demand more! I am also hoping for some more romance in the next book. I feel like the stage has been perfectly set and I am so anxious for a sequel!
Bottom Line: The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is an epic story! I really loved this one and I would encourage you to grab a copy and go on this awesome adventure yourself!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
An Enchantment of Ravens is a young adult standalone fae fantasy by Margaret Rogerson. I used to love books about the fae, but I haven't read a really good fae-centered book in a long time. So I was super excited when I started to see great early reviews of An Enchantment of Ravens. And when a few of my favorite bookstagrammers said it was one of their favorite reads of the year, I knew I had to read this one ASAP. And I was so not disappointed. An Enchantment of Ravens is a magical story, with beautiful writing. This is a book that instantly swept me away. I seriously loved this story.
In an Enchantment of Ravens we meet Isobel, a talented portrait artist in a town bordering the Fae world/forest. Whimsy is such an interesting town because of their proximity to the fair folk. Throughout the town's history, Fae come into town to buy items that are crafted. I'm not sure if this is a unique trait to Mrs. Rogerson's fae, but in this world fae cannot craft anything. In fact, engaging in any amount of crafting will kill a fae. That was such an interesting concept to me. So, the fae are absolutely ravenous for anything crafted. They cannot get enough of it. Isobel draws portraits of the fae, and in exchange she asks for various enchantments to help her family. I love how smart and perceptive Isobel is. She is a marvelous heroine on this faerie adventure.
Near the start of the story we meet Rook, the autumn prince. Rook is a fascinating character. I have such a crush on him and isobel. They juxtaposed themselves so nicely. I loved their romance, I loved their bickering. Honestly, I loved everything about the two of them. I really liked a lot of the secondary characters too. The fae that we found in the spring court were all very interesting. I am itching for a sequel or a companion novel because this book was simply too short. I need more! I would be happy to see the next book have a different character focus, like the spring prince!, but I am dying to see more Isobel and Rook.
Bottom line: Whether you are a fan of fae stories or not, you need to check out An Enchantment of Ravens. It is a beautiful fantasy tale that has enchanting prose and has a wonderfully romantic romance. I was totally swept up in the story and writing of An Enchantment of Ravens. This book is really lovely. It is a favorite new release of mine in 2017. And one of my favorite reads of the year! I cannot wait for more from Margaret Rogerson.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
An Enchantment of Ravens is a young adult standalone fae fantasy by Margaret Rogerson. I used to love books about the fae, but I haven't read a really good fae-centered book in a long time. So I was super excited when I started to see great early reviews of An Enchantment of Ravens. And when a few of my favorite bookstagrammers said it was one of their favorite reads of the year, I knew I had to read this one ASAP. And I was so not disappointed. An Enchantment of Ravens is a magical story, with beautiful writing. This is a book that instantly swept me away. I seriously loved this story.
In an Enchantment of Ravens we meet Isobel, a talented portrait artist in a town bordering the Fae world/forest. Whimsy is such an interesting town because of their proximity to the fair folk. Throughout the town's history, Fae come into town to buy items that are crafted. I'm not sure if this is a unique trait to Mrs. Rogerson's fae, but in this world fae cannot craft anything. In fact, engaging in any amount of crafting will kill a fae. That was such an interesting concept to me. So, the fae are absolutely ravenous for anything crafted. They cannot get enough of it. Isobel draws portraits of the fae, and in exchange she asks for various enchantments to help her family. I love how smart and perceptive Isobel is. She is a marvelous heroine on this faerie adventure.
Near the start of the story we meet Rook, the autumn prince. Rook is a fascinating character. I have such a crush on him and isobel. They juxtaposed themselves so nicely. I loved their romance, I loved their bickering. Honestly, I loved everything about the two of them. I really liked a lot of the secondary characters too. The fae that we found in the spring court were all very interesting. I am itching for a sequel or a companion novel because this book was simply too short. I need more! I would be happy to see the next book have a different character focus, like the spring prince!, but I am dying to see more Isobel and Rook.
Bottom line: Whether you are a fan of fae stories or not, you need to check out An Enchantment of Ravens. It is a beautiful fantasy tale that has enchanting prose and has a wonderfully romantic romance. I was totally swept up in the story and writing of An Enchantment of Ravens. This book is really lovely. It is a favorite new release of mine in 2017. And one of my favorite reads of the year! I cannot wait for more from Margaret Rogerson.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**You all know by now that I am the biggest fan of Penny Reid. And of the Winston brothers. As soon as I read Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid, and I was introduced to the 6 Winston Brothers, I was hooked. I knew that I wanted to read their stories. And then I read Truth or Beard, and I loved that even more. And then I read Beard Science, and I loved that the most of all!! There is not a Penny Reid book that I don't love. And what I love even more is her writing. No one writes romance like Penny Reid. Her books are always witty, gripping and so, so, much fun to read.
Beard in Mind is the fourth book in the Winston Brothers series. Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading them in order because they are all pure magic, and you will want to experience every minute of them. Trust me on that. Beard in Mind is Beau's story. And I have been waiting for Beau's story for a long time. Ever since I met him and his twin brother Duane, I have been intrigued by how different the two of them are. And I have wanted to get to know Beau better. That was honestly my favorite part of Beard in Mind. We really got to dive into Beau's head and see what makes him who he is. At the end of Cletus' story, I wasn't too sure about Shelly. She is an odd duck, that is for sure. So I was cautiously optimistic when I started Beard in Mind. And I have to say, Shelly really won me over. We certainly get to see why she is the way she is, and I really applaud Penny Reid on her thorough depiction of OCD with Shelly. It was really interesting for me to delve into some of her serious compulsions, thoughts and behaviors.
Cletus is still my favorite, but I did really love Beau as well. I am not sure that anyone can top Cletus in my mind, but I can't wait to see Billy's story and see if that is true or not. ( I have a feeling if any of the brothers can knock Cletus off the pedestal Jennifer and I have him on, it would be Billy. But I don't know. My love for Cletus does run pretty deep.)
I have said it before and I will say it again- Penny Reid has a winning formula on her hands with this family. Each of the Winston boys has such a big personality. That paired with Penny's talent for blending kick ass romance with spot on humor and comedic timing is pure gold. I get excited when I see that one of Penny Reid books is coming up on my TBR pile because I just know that it is going to be something great. And she has not let me down yet. If you have not yet experienced the magic that is a Penny Reid romance, this is the series you need to start with. You will fall head over heels for the Winston Boys! I will take a hot look from any of them. Winston Brothers, we are suited. I'll take any of them. But really....Cletus is all mine! Move over banana cake queen.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Beard in Mind is the fourth book in the Winston Brothers series. Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading them in order because they are all pure magic, and you will want to experience every minute of them. Trust me on that. Beard in Mind is Beau's story. And I have been waiting for Beau's story for a long time. Ever since I met him and his twin brother Duane, I have been intrigued by how different the two of them are. And I have wanted to get to know Beau better. That was honestly my favorite part of Beard in Mind. We really got to dive into Beau's head and see what makes him who he is. At the end of Cletus' story, I wasn't too sure about Shelly. She is an odd duck, that is for sure. So I was cautiously optimistic when I started Beard in Mind. And I have to say, Shelly really won me over. We certainly get to see why she is the way she is, and I really applaud Penny Reid on her thorough depiction of OCD with Shelly. It was really interesting for me to delve into some of her serious compulsions, thoughts and behaviors.
Cletus is still my favorite, but I did really love Beau as well. I am not sure that anyone can top Cletus in my mind, but I can't wait to see Billy's story and see if that is true or not. ( I have a feeling if any of the brothers can knock Cletus off the pedestal Jennifer and I have him on, it would be Billy. But I don't know. My love for Cletus does run pretty deep.)
I have said it before and I will say it again- Penny Reid has a winning formula on her hands with this family. Each of the Winston boys has such a big personality. That paired with Penny's talent for blending kick ass romance with spot on humor and comedic timing is pure gold. I get excited when I see that one of Penny Reid books is coming up on my TBR pile because I just know that it is going to be something great. And she has not let me down yet. If you have not yet experienced the magic that is a Penny Reid romance, this is the series you need to start with. You will fall head over heels for the Winston Boys! I will take a hot look from any of them. Winston Brothers, we are suited. I'll take any of them. But really....Cletus is all mine! Move over banana cake queen.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Mask of Shadows is the first book in an untitled series by debut author Linsey Miller. I have been loving fantasies lately, so when I saw this book, my interest was immediately piqued. I loved the idea behind the story. Basically, the queen has a different ring for every finger of her left hand- an opal, ruby, emerald. Each of the rings symbolize one of the Queen’s personal assassins. When the Queen's Opal dies, there are auditions AKA a competition to fill the spot. Insert our main character Sal.
The book was a little Three Dark Crowns and hunger games- esque because the competitors have to kill each other off to win the spot as the Queen's Opal. There were some pretty graphic, and interesting, deaths in this novel. I also really enjoyed the twist of the competition- no one can be caught killing another competitor. If you are caught you are disqualified (and probably never to be heard from again, kind of disqualified.) I thought this rule made things extra interesting. Most of the book were the various stages of the competition, and served to lay the foundation for the rest of the series. We also got to get some insight into the political turmoil of the various countries in this world. I think book two is going to be even better than the first one because of this. Now that we know what is going on, I bet book two will be action packed and will move us to different scenery and a change of pace from this book, since most of the story took place at court, where the bulk of the competition was held.
Sal is a very interesting main character. Sal is gender fluid, which is the first time I have seen this done in a YA fantasy novel. So this was both a positive and a negative for me. Positive, I loved that Sal was such a diverse character, and I found Linsey Miller's description of gender-fluid Sal to be excellent. But it was also a negative because for a while, I felt like that was all anyone was talking about when they were talking about or to Sal. I was ok with it at first, but once it started to infiltrate numerous conversations I started to become a little bored of it being the main topic of conversation. I am going to see how Sal is handled in the second book. Right now, I am pleased with Sal but it is right on the edge. So I am hoping that we discuss and learn about other aspects of who Sal is, rather than just being gender-fluid.
The plot of mask of Shadows was the real winner for me. I am interested in continuing on in this fantasy series because I think it has a lot of potential to develop into a really strong series. Fans of to-the-death competitions will enjoy Mask of Shadows. I enjoyed this ya Fantasy and I look forward to reading more from author Linsey Miller.
P.S. The ending of this book TOTALLY SURPRISED ME! That's all I am going to say about that...
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Mask of Shadows is the first book in an untitled series by debut author Linsey Miller. I have been loving fantasies lately, so when I saw this book, my interest was immediately piqued. I loved the idea behind the story. Basically, the queen has a different ring for every finger of her left hand- an opal, ruby, emerald. Each of the rings symbolize one of the Queen’s personal assassins. When the Queen's Opal dies, there are auditions AKA a competition to fill the spot. Insert our main character Sal.
The book was a little Three Dark Crowns and hunger games- esque because the competitors have to kill each other off to win the spot as the Queen's Opal. There were some pretty graphic, and interesting, deaths in this novel. I also really enjoyed the twist of the competition- no one can be caught killing another competitor. If you are caught you are disqualified (and probably never to be heard from again, kind of disqualified.) I thought this rule made things extra interesting. Most of the book were the various stages of the competition, and served to lay the foundation for the rest of the series. We also got to get some insight into the political turmoil of the various countries in this world. I think book two is going to be even better than the first one because of this. Now that we know what is going on, I bet book two will be action packed and will move us to different scenery and a change of pace from this book, since most of the story took place at court, where the bulk of the competition was held.
Sal is a very interesting main character. Sal is gender fluid, which is the first time I have seen this done in a YA fantasy novel. So this was both a positive and a negative for me. Positive, I loved that Sal was such a diverse character, and I found Linsey Miller's description of gender-fluid Sal to be excellent. But it was also a negative because for a while, I felt like that was all anyone was talking about when they were talking about or to Sal. I was ok with it at first, but once it started to infiltrate numerous conversations I started to become a little bored of it being the main topic of conversation. I am going to see how Sal is handled in the second book. Right now, I am pleased with Sal but it is right on the edge. So I am hoping that we discuss and learn about other aspects of who Sal is, rather than just being gender-fluid.
The plot of mask of Shadows was the real winner for me. I am interested in continuing on in this fantasy series because I think it has a lot of potential to develop into a really strong series. Fans of to-the-death competitions will enjoy Mask of Shadows. I enjoyed this ya Fantasy and I look forward to reading more from author Linsey Miller.
P.S. The ending of this book TOTALLY SURPRISED ME! That's all I am going to say about that...
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
